Chapter 2
I held my phone, not bothering to move away. I answered right in front of Darren, keeping my voice cool and steady. "Mom, I don't have any money."
My mom screamed, "Don't give me that crap. Aren't you working at Darren's huge company? He's the boss. How could you not get paid?
"I don't care. You have to cough up the money. If Jason can't get married, I'll make a scene at your office and make your life hell!"
Listening to her same old threats, the last bit of warmth in my heart faded away.
"Oh, come on over," I said, my tone flat.
With that, I hung up. Right in front of Darren, who looked stunned, I blocked my mom's number without hesitation.
After I finished, I looked up at him and flashed a bright, dazzling smile.
"See, Darren? This is everything you claim I have," I said.
With that, I didn't give him another look. I turned, straightened my spine, and walked out of the office that had stolen six years of my youth, step by step.
My heels echoed crisply across the polished marble floor, each step ringing with finality.
Darren didn't follow me.
He was probably still stunned that the usually obedient Dorothy had the guts to push back.
He was convinced I was throwing a fit and would come crawling back to him in a few days.
But he didn't realize that this time, I truly meant it. I was done with him for good.
As I walked out of the office building, the sunlight hit me hard, almost blinding.
A black Bentley Mulsanne was parked by the curb, low-key but oozing luxury.
The window slid down, revealing a profile so impossibly handsome that it felt unreal.
The man inside wore a perfectly tailored black suit, his vibe cool and aristocratic. Sitting there, he exuded power and sophistication.
He turned, his intense, captivating eyes landing right on me.
"It's over?" he asked.
I nodded, opened the door, and slid inside.
He was Bruce, Darren's arch-nemesis, the youngest and most mysterious billionaire in Voston.
And he was also my fiancé.
The car was quiet, the air carrying a faint hint of cedar, so different from that heavy blend of coffee and cigar smoke in Darren's office.
Bruce didn't start the car right away. Instead, he passed me a bottle of mineral water, still warm to the touch.
"Have some water first," he said, his voice low and rich, like the G string of a cello.
I took the bottle, and when my fingertips brushed against the cool pad of his, a jolt of electricity shot through me.
"Thanks," I said.
I took small sips of water, trying to calm the storm of emotions inside me.
Bruce's eyes locked on me, deep and focused. "Did Darren give you a hard time?"
I shook my head, forcing a smile. "No, we talked it out."
"Good," Bruce said. He didn't push it and started the car.
He knew how to keep his boundaries.
Fate brought us together in the most unexpected way.
About a month ago, Darren's company held a big celebration. At the dinner, a drunk investor, Ethan Harrison, started pawing at me, slurring out disgusting remarks.
I sent Darren a pleading look, hoping he'd step in.
But he stood there, wine glass in hand, laughing it up with another business partner, acting like he couldn't see how miserable I was.
He even shot me a glance, silently telling me to play along for the company's sake.
Right then, my heart was dead.
As I was about to flip the table, a hand clamped down on the investor's greasy paw.
"Mr. Harrison, are you drunk?" A cool, commanding voice rang out, with an authority that brooked no dissent.
It was Bruce.
No one knew when he had shown up. Without a hint of emotion on his face, Bruce made Ethan, who'd been swaggering moments ago, instantly sober up, his face pale.
"M-Mr. Crawford," the investor stammered.
Bruce ignored him and handed me a business card.
"If you ever want out, call me," he said.
With that, he left with his assistant, leaving the whole room in shock, and Darren's face was dark as thunder.
After that night, Darren lost his temper at me for the first time.
He accused me of getting involved with Bruce behind his back, called me unfaithful, and said I was trying to cheat on him.
I didn't explain because I knew, to him, I was only his property.
My dignity and feelings meant nothing compared to his business.
That was the day I started planning my departure.
I reached out to Bruce.
I thought he was playing the gentleman, or maybe trying to dig up some secrets about Darren's company from me.